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Netflix Makes Statement In Wake Of Steven Spielberg's Attempt To Block Streaming Giant From Oscars (deadline.com)
Netflix has addressed Steven Spielberg's concerns, after the legendary director indicated he'd throw his weight behind making Oscars harder to reach for Netflix films like "Roma". From a report: The streaming giant didn't name Spielberg directly in its tweet, but considering his views on Netflix films and the Academy Awards, it seems like the statement is associated with the director's thoughts about their participation as contenders in award season. "We love cinema," the official Netflix Twitter account wrote. They continue with a list of things they loved including: Access for people who can't always afford, or live in towns without, theaters; letting everyone, everywhere enjoy releases at the same time; and giving filmmakers more ways to share art. "These things are not mutually exclusive," they concluded in a tweet that could be considered a clap back at the filmmaker. IndieWire reported last week that Spielberg, who serves as the current governor of the Academy's directors branch, intends to argue in favor of changing the Oscars' rules to prevent streaming services from entering the campaign field at the Academy Board of Governors' next meeting. Because Netflix is a home-viewing platform, critics like Spielberg say that it's better-suited for the Emmys, which celebrate TV, a medium inherent to home-viewing.
"If Netflix wants an Oscar then they need to show the film in a cinema."
You're obviously not aware that Roma (and others) had a theatrical release before they started streaming it. So, Spielberg's sour grapes amounts to, uh, sour grapes.
"National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
Roma (and the others) had an artificially limited theatrical release in order to make it eligible for the Oscars, to generate interesting on the festival circuit, and to satisfy the desires of the director for a "real" screening.
Here in Denmark, Roma could easily have carried a multi-theatre multi-week theatrical release... instead it was screened exactly once for a festival spot (a screening which sold out a month in advance). What's keeping these movies out of theaters is not a lack of interest among theatergoers, but a decision by Netflix to shore up their content monopoly.